30 things TO SEE and do in TOKYO

Posted: 11/23/2019 | November 23rd, 2019

Tokyo is an incredible, enormous city home to over 10 million people. It’s the capital of Japan and home to a large variety of fun, historic, and quirky attractions. From the world’s largest tuna auction and the Imperial palace to robot restaurants and vampire cafés, Tokyo really does have something for everyone.

Whether you’re here for a short stopover or living here as an expat, you’ll be able to find plenty of ways to pass the time and get a feel for the organized chaos that is Tokyo. To help you make the most out of your trip, here are the best things to see and do in Tokyo:

1. check out the Fish Market

The Tsukiji Fish Market was one of the most famous staples of the city. In 2018, the market moved to Toyosu and is now twice the size of the original Tsukiji market. In fact, the new market is the largest fish market in the entire world. While you’ll need a visitor’s pass to enter (you can get one on arrival) the pass is complimentary (which indicates you’ll have a lot more money to spend on sushi!)

There are over 600 vendors here selling fresh fish as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Gorge on sushi and marvel at the chaotic atmosphere of the world’s largest tuna market. The tuna auction here powers much of the world’s sushi supply, and it is genuinely a sight to be seen. You can also see a model of the largest tuna ever sold at Tsujiki — which weighed 500kg (1,100lbs!).

In addition to the new market, the old outer market at Tsukiji still has plenty of restaurants and shops. You can still head there to eat and look around, though all the action is now at Toyosu. Be sure to arrive early to beat the crowds (especially on Saturdays).

Tsukiji Fish Market: 5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo, +81 3-3542-1111. La admisión es gratuita. Toyosu Fish Market: 6 Chome-6-2 Toyosu, Koto, +81 3-3520-8205. open Monday-Saturday from 5am-5pm, though a lot of shops don’t open until 7am. La admisión es gratuita.

2. explore by the Imperial Palace

The Imperial palace is the official home of the Emperor of Japan. It’s a excellent spot to learn about Japan’s history and culture. formerly Edo Castle, the palace was built in the 15th century, and some of the walls and moats from that time are still in use to this day. When the Emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1869, he took Edo for his new palace and renamed it the Imperial Palace.

You can’t go inside (or even get incredibly close), however, the building itself is both regal and tranquil and a terrific place to kick back or snap some photos. The palace is surrounded by stunning grounds and a park, and there’s a moat around the enormous stone walls. Admission to the grounds is free.

3. Experience a Tea Ceremony

No check out to Japan is complete without experiencing a standard tea ceremony. Tea was brought to Japan in the 9th century by a Buddhist monk and by the 12th century, the ceremony began to take shape. While these ceremonies are normally long (not to mention expensive), there are plenty of budget-friendly options for any individual seeking to experience one without breaking the bank. here are a few budget-friednly tea ceremonies in Tokyo worth checking out:

Kyoto-kan (500 JPY per person, Yanmar Tokyo building 1F 2-1-1)

Nadeshiko (2,700-4,400 JPY per person, 2-7-24-2F Asakusa)

The way of Tea (5,500 JPY per person, Coredo Muromachi 3 3F)

4. kick back in Ueno Park

Ueno Park is a kicking back and stunning spot to kick back for a few hours (or an entire day if you’re not in a rush). It’s a tranquil spot to photograph the lots of cherry trees that line the park (which blossom in April and are a substantial vacationer draw) or to have a picnic on a sunny summer afternoon.

There are also a few crucial things to see in the park as well. here are a few sights in the park you must make time to visit:

Tokyo national museum – well established in 1872, this museum is located in the north end of the park and houses one of the world’s largest collections of art and artifacts from Asia, particularly Japan. 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito, +81 3-3822-1111, tnm.jp. open daily 9:30am-5pm (8pm on a lot of Fridays). Admission is 620 JPY.

Tosho-gu Shrine – This is a 17th-century Shinto shrine with sensational gold doors and ornate carvings. 9-88 Uenokoen, Taito, +81 3-3822-3455, uenotoshogu.com/en. open daily 9am-5:30pm. Admission is free, though to go additionally into the shrine, you’ll have to pay 500 JPY.

National museum of Western Art – opened in 1959, this is one of the only art galleries in the country to focus on Western art. The collection is comprised of 5,000 pieces, dating from the Renaissance all the way to the 20th century. There are works by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, and Picasso as well as sculptures dating back to the 14th century.7-7 Uenokoen, +81 3-3828-5131 , nmwa.go.jp. open Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-5:30pm (8pm on Fridays). Admission is 500 JPY for adults, 250 for college students, and complimentary for seniors and any individual under 18.

5. eat at the Robot Restaurant

This restaurant, literally called Robot Restaurant, is an absolute sensory overload. it has lasers, robots, monsters, music, dancing and much, much more! Sure, it may be a bit of a vacationer trap (aka it’s not cheap), but it is an epic dining experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s absolutely worth the price if you want to do something completely out of the common — and something decidedly Japanese.

1 Chome-7-1 Kabukicho, +81 3-3200-5500, shinjuku-robot.com/pc. There are three performances a day on weekdays starting at 4:45pm, with afternoon matinees on weekends.

6. Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

This small museum used to be the official residence of the prince and Princess Asaka. built in 1933, the building itself was influenced by the art deco movement in Paris. The prince had studied in Paris and wanted to bring the art deco style to Japan, for this reason the building’s style and decorations. In 1983, the residence transitioned into a museum and is now home to a rotating series of modern art exhibitions. See their web site for information on what exhibits are available.

5-21-9 Shirokanedai, +81 3-3443-0201, teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en. open daily 10am-6pm. Admission is 200 JPY, with discounts available for students, children, and seniors.

7. stroll Along the Meguro River

The Meguro River weaves nearly five miles through the city and makes for a spectacular stroll. There’s a path with a bit of green space that follows the water, so plenty of locals walk or exercise there. In the spring, you’ll be able to see a lot of cherry blossoms as you walk along the banks of the river as well.

While the walk is great at any time of year, late March to early April is when the cherry blossoms will be in bloom. While there will be a lot of people then (cherry blossom checking out is a national pastime) you’ll be rewarded with some stunning scenery in the heart of the metropolis.

8. check out Asakusa

If you want to check out some of Tokyo’s historic and culturally-significant religious sites, be sure to spend some time wandering around Asakusa. two places that I’d suggest you check out are:

Senso-ji – This is Tokyo’s a lot of popular (and arguably a lot of famous) temple. It’s beautifully painted and sits in a picturesque spot near a pagoda and the Kaminari Gate. There’s a substantial statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, inside the main hall. It’s busy during the day so goal to check out in the evening to beat the crowds. 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, +81 3-3842-0181, senso-ji.jp. The grounds are open 24/7, though the temple itself is open daily 6am-5pm. La admisión es gratuita.

Asakusa Shrine – This is a Shinto shrine located near Senso-ji. It’s much a lot more serene and less busy than Senso-ji as well. It was built during the Edo period and miraculously survived the air raids of world war II. 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, +81 3-3844-1575, asakusajinja.jp. open daily 9am-4:30pm. La admisión es gratuita.

9. have dinner with Ninjas

For another special dining experience, head to Ninja Akasaka. It’s a novelty ninja-themed restaurant created like an Edo-era building. The waitstaff are clothed in stereotypical all-black garb and trained in all sorts of basic tricks, sleight of hand, and illusions. You’ll buy off old scrolls while being entertained by the skillful tricks of your server. The food isn’t anything special it’s incredibly fun and the atmosphere is unique.

Tokyu Plaza Akasaka, +81 3-5157-3936, ninjaakasaka.com. open daily 5pm-10:30pm (9:45pm on Sundays)

10. drink in golden Gai

If you are trying to find something interesting to do at night, this alley of backstreet bars is a amazing spot to start at. There isn’t much going on here during the day, but come sundown, these zigzag hallways and closet-sized beer rooms are filled with interesting people and low-cost drinks. There are 6 alleys connected by narrow passageways only large enough for 1 or 2 people, making it a rather special place to start your night out on the town. It’s located in Shinjuku.

11. check out the national Art Center

Opened in 2007, this museum and gallery doesn’t actually have a permanent collection but rather houses a never-ending series of momentary exhibitions, from impressionism to modern art (the Monet exhibition that was held here in 2007 was the most checked out exhibition in el mundo). There are upwars ofr 60+ exhibitons annually so check their web site to see what is currently being shown.

7 Chome-22-2 Roppongi, +81 3-5777-8600, nact.jp. open Wednesday-Monday 10am-5:30pm. Admission varies by exhibit.

12. eat below the Girders

Not far from Ginza is the Yurakucho neighborhood. below the elevated train tracks at Yurakucho station is a 700m-long stretch of restaurants and bars. There are white wine bars, beer pubs, and casual restaurants filled with businessmen. If you want to get a sense of local city life, this isUn buen vecindario para explorar después de la jornada laboral ha terminado.

13. Superhéroe Go-Karting

Si eres un fanático de los videojuegos (o simplemente quieres hacer algo diferente), mira Street Kart. Esta es una compañía de Go-Kart de Mario Bros. de la vida real que te permite vestirte y competir por la ciudad. Mientras tenga un permiso de conducir internacional (que puede obtener si tiene una licencia de conducir válida), puede participar, corriendo por la ciudad vestida como Mario, Yoshi o incluso Spiderman.

4-12-9 Sotokanda, +81 80-8899-8899, maricar.com/en/akihabara.html. Abierto todos los días de 10 a.m. a 10 p.m. El curso tomará 1-2 horas y cuesta 9,000 JPY por persona. Hay múltiples ubicaciones en la ciudad.

14. Echa un vistazo a un Sento

Un Sento es una casa de baños pública japonesa estándar (y comunitaria). En el pasado, los baños privados eran raros ya que los alojamientos en Japón son notoriamente pequeños. Si bien los baños privados son mucho más comunes hoy en día, Sentos permanece en los centros culturales cruciales. ¡Los japoneses no son tímidos en Sentos, por lo que debes sentirte cómodo con la desnudez! Por lo general, están separados por el género. Un Sento con presupuesto le costará poco menos de 1,000 JPY. Solo tenga en cuenta que muchas políticas contra tatuajes.

15. Echa un vistazo a un café peculiar

Tokio tiene todo tipo de cafés extraños y excelentes. Monster Cafés, cafés de gatos, cafés para perros, cafés de búho, cafés de vampiros y mucho más! Si puede pensar en ello, probablemente haya un café para ello en algún lugar de la ciudad. Si está tratando de encontrar algo inusual que hacer (o simplemente quiere un lugar para relajarse después de explorar), eche un vistazo y vea qué cafés extraños y extravagantes están cerca de usted (están en toda la ciudad, por lo que nunca tiene que hacerlo. ¡Ve lejos para encontrar uno!).

Aquí hay algunas ideas para ayudarlo a comenzar:

Kawaii Monster Café

Café de vampiros

Christon Café (Café con temática cristiana)

Dog Heart (Dog Café)

CAFÉ CAFÉ CALICO

16. Ver Shibuya Crossing

Esta normalmente se considera la intersección más ocupada (y mucha famosa) del mundo. Esta estación de metro cercana transporta 2,4 millones de personas por día y se estima que más de 2.500 lo cruzan a la vez durante la hora pico. Por la noche, la interacción es zumbando. Las luces brillantes futuristas se alinean en las calles, con vallas publicitarias que reproducen videos y anuncios. Tiene una sensación de ciencia ficción (me recuerda a Times Square sobre esteroides).

Mientras esté aquí, asegúrese de consultar la estatua entre la estación Shibuya y la intersección. Es un homenaje a Hachiko, un perro de mascota devoto que esperaba a su maestro cada día durante 9 años, sin saber que su dueño había fallecido. El perro mascota es una especie de ícono nacional en Japón, y la historia fue popular por la película Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.

17. Camina por Shimokitazawa

Descansado de tiendas vintage, este vecindario bohemio se compara típicamente con East Village de Nueva York. Es un excelente ejemplo del lado más tranquilo de Tokio y usa algunas calles de pateación mucho más para pasear y Window Shop. Ya sea que esté buscando comprar o simplemente quiera tomar la escena, este es un vecindario increíble para explorar durante un par de horas.

18. Mira al monte Fuji de Hakone

Si desea hacer una excursión de un día (o un viaje de varios días) de la ciudad, considere ir a Hakone. Se encuentra a poco más de una hora de Tokio y es uno de los mejores lugares para alejarse de la ciudad, relajarse durante unos días y disfrutar de la vista del Monte Fuji. Hay muchas casas de huéspedes en el área, muchas con su propia onsen privada (aguas termales naturales), lo que lo convierte en un lugar excelente para elegir unas vacaciones románticas o si solo quieres mimarte.

Si tiene el pase de ferrocarril de Japón, puede llegar aquí gratis.

19. Colgar con las chicas Harajuku

Harajuku es una parte eléctrica y peculiar de la ciudad conocida por su moda, tiendas antiguas y tiendas de cosplay. Mientras deambulas, normalmente verás “Harajuku Girls” caminando por la ciudad con ropa especial y peinados coloridos (imagina un video Gwen Stefani de la década de 1990. Además de toda la moda de vanguardia, también hay toneladas de restaurantes de moda en el área. Y también hay una caminata mensual de la moda de Harajuku que destaca a los disfrazados coshicentes de la ciudad mientras desfilan un